ICT academy to come up in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: The union and state governments, along with a few private firms, intend to set up an Indoermation and Communications Technologies (ICT) Academy of Tamil Nadu (ICTACT) shortly.

In order to attract industry participation, a non-profit company registered under Section 25 of the Indian Companies Act, will own the proposed academy.

A professional chief executive officer would head the academy, C. Chandramouli, IT secretary, Tamil Nadu, told the media here Monday.

He said of the 250 engineering colleges in the state, only 25 attract industry headhunters.

The board of directors of the academy would comprise representatives from shareholders and also vice-chancellors of a couple of universities and other educators, said Subu D. Subramanian, chairman, ICT Forum, Confederation of Indian Industry, Southern Region, and director and senior vice-president, manufacturing and automobile business group, Satyam Computer Services Ltd.

The academy would also conduct online programmes for students to upgrade their skills.

According to Subramanian, the expenditure during the first three years is budgeted around Rs200 million.

The Tamil Nadu government is also looking at the feasibility of setting up a science park where innovators can undertake research, incubate their company and exit.

"The technology parks set up by educational institutions are available only to their students or faculty. There are also full-fledged industrial parks. There is, therefore, need for a unique park for innovators to do their research, commercialise their invention and move out," said Chandramouli.

He said the government is looking for experts' views for laying down eligibility norms for innovators to set up shop in the science park and also the exit norms.
Source: IANS